JAPANESE ART > UKIYO-E WOODBLOCK PRINTS > THE KISS OF THE WIND

Lot 00756
N.1 ukiyo-e woodblock print

Kitagawa Utamaro

THE KISS OF THE WIND

Year: 1804 ca.
Condition: signs of aging
Size: 13 x 19 cm

SOLD

Precious original woodblock print made around 1804 by the artist Kitagawa Utamaro (喜多川歌麿) and depicting a yujo (遊女) from the famous Shin Yoshiwara (新吉原) red-light district of Edo (江戸) in the company of her young kamuro (禿) assistant, who follows her carrying a shamisen (三味線) lute.

In the upper part of the work, a poetic composition that is not easy to read by the writer Jippensha Ikku (十返舎一九) which, in all probability, reads: «Despite the pains / generated by passion, / the kiss of the wind / on the blooming flowers / protects the Yoshiwara» (情する / やくわともあれ / さく花に / 風の手附ハ / いとふよし原).

The rare print shows evident signs of aging and, in particular, spots and small holes.

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